L-3 Communications has received a $208 million contract from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for night vision soldier systems, the company announced on 14 November.
The five-year contract, awarded under the ADF's LAND 53 Phase 1BR programme, follows a competitive bid process that included extensive ADF field testing.
The equipment will include targeting and detection capabilities that are designed to perform at night and under all weather conditions, including binocular night vision goggles that incorporate white phosphor image intensification technology; a compact multifunction aiming laser with integrated white light capability; and the next generation of lightweight, miniature laser rangefinders.
L-3 Warrior Systems will also open a new sustainment centre in Australia to provide in-country logistics support, as well as regional customer support, for this project.
Deliveries will take place between May 2017 and May 2021.
The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.
Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.
The Italian Army operates Pumas in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations but the platforms are ageing and numbers have fallen with obsolescence also being an issue. Any replacement is likely to have a focus on the involvement of local industry.
The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) 4×4 by Urovesa is in service with or has been ordered by eight countries, the most recent being Spain this month and Romania last month.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile with the solid rocket motor (SRM) provided by Northrop Grumman. The company is working to boost its SRM production capability.
The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.
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